January 2023 edition • Issue No. 17
Produced by the Maxwell Park Neighborhood Council (MPNC)
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Happy new year, neighbors!
Wishing all of you a healthy, happy and safe 2023! While we no doubt need the rainfall in California, the recent storms are packing quite a punch. Maxwell Park on Fleming Avenue was flooded during last weekend's storm. It’s good some erosion control measures were carried out by volunteers and City of Oakland Public Works before "Lake Maxwell" took over the park on New Year’s Day; photo below. If you have photos you'd like to share, please email maxwellparknewsletter@gmail.com.
Alameda County offers resources on how to be prepared for the winter storms here. Please consider a few things you can do to help the neighborhood: remove debris from storm drains, secure loose objects in your yards, and check in on your neighbors. Stay safe!
This month we say farewell to our District 6 Councilmember Loren Taylor. On behalf of the Maxwell Park Neighborhood Council, thank you to Loren for his hard work to improve the lives of District 6 residents over the last four years. We wish you well and send you off with our appreciation!
In this issue we share:
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Flooding at Maxwell Park on Fleming Ave. after the recent storm (Photo by Nancy Karigaca)
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Join the January Maxwell Park Neighborhood Council community meeting:
Wednesday, January 11, 7-8:30 p.m. on Zoom
Agenda includes:
- Special Topic/Guest Speaker: Elliott M. Jones, MACRO Program Manager.
MACRO is a community response program for non-violent, non-emergency 911 calls. The purpose of MACRO is to meet the needs of the community with a compassionate care first response model grounded in empathy, service, and community. MACRO's goal is to reduce responses by police, resulting in fewer arrests and negative interactions, and increased access to community-based services and resources for impacted individuals and families, and most especially for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).
- Opportunity to discuss neighborhood-related issues with the MPNC.
Register with the button below or at www.maxwellparknc.org.
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Message from Councilmember Taylor
Hey Maxwell Parkers,
As I share final remarks as your District 6 Councilmember, I would like to first say thank you! Serving as your representative on Oakland’s City Council over the four years has been a true highlight of my life. Together, we have achieved a lot, some of which you can view in our 4 Years of Accomplishments In 4-ish Minutes video. This neighborhood remains a special pocket of Oakland, and I look forward to future opportunities to partner and collaborate. I hope you will stay connected on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn or by emailing me directly at loren@lorenforoakland.com.
Additionally, here are some resources for you all to take advantage of in the new year. Enjoy!
Yours in Service,
Councilmember Loren Taylor
Bulky Block Party Moved To January 28
The Bulky Block Party program remains ongoing, but the previously announced Dec. 17 event at 7101 Edgewater Drive has been canceled. In prior years, public participation in these events has declined during the holiday season. The cancellation of December’s event will allow the city to redirect staff resources to other trash collection and community cleanup operations. The next Bulky Block Party at the Edgewater facility will take place on Saturday, January 28, 2023.
Residents can learn more about trash, recycling, and compost services available in Oakland by going to www.oaklandrecycles.com. Oaklanders can learn more about services available to combat and reduce illegal dumping – and learn how they themselves can help – at www.oaktownproud.com.
Apply For Oakland's Façade And Tenant Improvement Program
Applications are now open for the City of Oakland’s Façade and Tenant Improvement Program (FTIP), which is relaunching after key changes to remove barriers and facilitate equitable access to funding for small businesses and property owners. Applications are available at www.oaklandca.gov/ftip.
The City of Oakland’s Facade and Tenant Improvement Program provides up to $75,000 in grants to small business owners and property owners to improve the exterior and interior of their commercial properties. Grants are available for up to $30,000 for exterior work, and up to $45,000 for interior work to improve their commercial ground floor spaces.
Applications For Oakland's Cultural Funding Program Are Open
Applications are being accepted for the City of Oakland’s 2022-2023 Cultural Funding Program grants supporting organization programs and individual artist projects. Applicants must be Oakland-based and all activities must be presented in Oakland between January 1, 2023, and August 31, 2023. Interested nonprofit organizations and artists may access the grant guidelines and applications at http://bit.ly/3gb7z8b. The submission deadline is Thursday, January 12, 2023, at 5 p.m.
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Join the Maxwell Park Emergency Response Team (MPERT) contact list:
email MPERT.info@gmail.com or call/text: 510-917-9994
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Architectural Interest in Maxwell Park
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Photos by Barbara Hartford
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Message from MPNC Chair
from José A. Dorado, Chair, Maxwell Park Neighborhood Council
On December 10, 2022, Kevin Jenkins, the incoming District 6 Councilmember, met with me and about fifteen of my neighbors on Madera Avenue. During the great two-hour meeting, Kevin spoke about the importance of his listening to District 6 residents. We had a wide-ranging discussion guided by the agenda prepared by the meeting hosts, Owen and Dana. The following issues were covered:
- City Budget: Kevin would like to have three to four town hall meetings to understand District 6's diverse needs in relation to the budget.
- Public Safety: We spoke about the root causes of crime, enforcement and the new, incoming District Attorney (Pamela Price).
- Illegal Dumping: Waste Management has a big contract with the City of Oakland. Bulky pickups need to be increased.
- Sideshows: Lots of discussion regarding sideshows. Follow-up is underway; more below.
- District 6 Youth Commission: Kevin would like to see a commission formed. We must invest in our youth.
- Schools: We spoke about the importance of education, including sports and skilled trades.
- Mills College at Northeastern University: We spoke about the changes since the merge with Northeastern University, and the potential development on the campus.
- Holy Names University: The school is closing; Northeastern University may also be looking to expand here as well.
All in all, everyone left the meeting satisfied with the time spent with Kevin, especially given his commitment to continue the conversation.
Sideshows: As a result of the December 10 meeting with Kevin, follow-up is underway including: 1) I am working on arranging a meeting between Kevin, Carroll Fife, and three District 6 neighbors regarding alternatives to the sideshows, such as holding events at the Oakland Coliseum; and 2) The City Council postponed action on penalizing sideshow spectators at Carroll Fife's suggestion, after her conversations with Kevin.
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ECO Tip: Yard Planting
from our neighborhood environmentalist
Now is the best time of year for planting in the yard. New seedlings, cuttings, shrubs, and trees will enjoy months of wet soil. The daylight is not at a stressful intensity now while new roots and growth gets established. Consider buying from native plant nurseries here in the East Bay.
East Bay Wilds Native Plant Nursery (Oakland) | 510-409-5858
eastbaywilds.com
Oaktown Native Plant Nursery (Berkeley) | 510-387-9744
oaktownnursery.com
Ploughshares Nursery (Alameda) | 510-755-1102
ploughsharesnursery.com
Native Here Nursery (Berkeley) | 510-549-0211
nativeherenursery.org
Watershed Nursery (Richmond) | 510-234-2222
watershed nursery.com
Larner Seeds and Nursery (North Bay) | 415-868-9407
larnerseeds.com
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Mills College at Northeastern University Update
Submitted by Renee Jadushlever, Vice President for Campus Administration and Strategic Initiatives
With the first semester successfully concluded in the newly merged Mills College at Northeastern University, we are committed to continuing the legacy of Mills College through the establishment of the Mills Institute. The institute’s programs and partnerships will support transformative learning, advocacy and research, with a focus on career development for women, gender nonbinary individuals and communities that historically have been marginalized because of race or ethnicity. An article in News@Northeastern recently highlighted the appointment of the inaugural Executive Director Nicole M. Guidotti-Hernández and can be found here.
To keep apprised of campus events, please regularly visit: https://mills.northeastern.edu/events-calendar/
Music Performances:
- Laetitia Sonami With SUE-C, Paul DeMarinis and James Fei — Mills Music Now
February 4, 2023, 8:00pm-10:30 pm, Littlefield Concert Hall, Music Building
Mills Music Now Presented by the Mills College at Northeastern University Music Department and the Center for Contemporary Music. This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required
Program: 100 TRILLIONS (2022, world premiere) is an interstellar travelogue by musicians Laetitia Sonami and Paul DeMarinis, and video artist SUE-C. Expanding on their previous 100 Millions streaming performance from 2020, the artists continue their exploration of (mis)communications between distant planetary beings using vintage synths, hand-cut picnic plate records, machine learning synthesis, home-made instruments, and live hands-on cinematic imagery.
- Ring Shout: Remembering. Honoring. Elevating through Afro and African American Cultural Expression, Featuring Awon Ohun Omnira (Voices of Freedom)
February 11, 2023, 9:30 am check in and refreshments, Program: 10 a.m.– 12:30 p.m., Rothwell Center, Student Union Porch. Registration Required
Join Reverend Wanda Ravernell and Awon Ohun Omnira (Voices of Freedom), of the Omnira Institute for this special circle/ceremonia of Ring Shout, an Afro and African American cultural expression that was once common particularly in the South until the 1950s. It has been authentically practiced by the McIntosh County Shouters, who located near Savannah, Ga., Since the 1800s. This song, "Jubilee," is about the day freedom came. For the centuries before freedom, our enslaved ancestors had prayed for it, referring to freedom as the Day of Jubilee.
This circle will honor ancestors through the faith traditions they held before they were enslaved. Prayers will be offered by our diverse community, not limited to First Nations; traditional African belief systems known as Khemet, Vodun, Ifa, Palo Mayombe, etc.). The African Bata drums will be brought by members of Awon Ohun Omnira (Voices of Freedom) who are the performing arm of our co-hosts, Omnira Institute. Participants are invited join in some freedom and ring shout songs.
Athletic Facilities Calendars and Hours can be found here: https://millsatnucampussportsandrec.sites.northeastern.edu/events/
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Join the High Street Cleanups
The High Street Coalition (HSC) continues its great beautification work along the High Street corridor. The group meets on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month for trash clean-up. Shout out to lead volunteers James Owen and Linda Hunt (who does the lion share of the watering and almost never misses a cleanup), as well as team leaders Karen Fong, Cindy Hobbs and Jillian Greenacre. New volunteers are always welcome!
The next clean-up Saturdays are January 14 and 28 from 8:30-10:30 a.m. Meet at the Walgreens on High Street. Find more information about volunteering at www.highstcoalition.org and follow HSC on Instagram. If you're unable to volunteer, please consider a donation at Gofundme for funds to purchase plants and supplies.
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What would you like to see?
Any suggestions for the newsletter? Would you like to contribute? We want it to be a helpful resource for building community and keeping you informed of what’s happening in Maxwell Park. Community involvement can build a better quality of life for us all. Please share with us at maxwellparknewsletter@gmail.com.
The MPNC is dedicated to improving the quality of life and safety in Maxwell Park (Police Beat 28X). The MPNC consists of a Board of Directors and a number of Neighborhood Action Teams that address neighborhood concerns such as blight, traffic, and emergency preparedness. As an authorized City of Oakland Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council, we work cooperatively with the City Council and Police Department on priority safety issues. New participants are always welcome!
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Please share this newsletter with a neighbor, who can subscribe here. If you have any neighborhood-related concerns or want to get involved as a community volunteer, please reach out to the MPNC.
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